Heart of Stone

Avoidant

Eloise walked back into the store, closing the door behind her and leaning against it. She blew out a big breath she didn't even know she was holding, and her knees felt weak. She had almost gotten caught. Thank God for Emily knowing when to just follow along.

She pushed off the door and walked into the office, finding Emily smirking at her from the desk chair. She held out her phone to her and she gratefully took it. Emily chuckled at her.

"You're a life saver." Eloise sighed.

"I didn't actually answer it, just in case you were worried." She said.

"Oh, thank god." Eloise sank down into the second office chair, blowing a piece of hair out of her face.

"That was a close one." Emily chuckled.

Eloise shook her head. She had to be done with this. If she continued, he was sure to find out. What then? Would he hate her? She didn't want to know. But what was she supposed to do? She didn't seek him out, he kept coming to her.

Looking down at her phone, she realized Caroline had left another message. The woman probably thought at this point that Eloise was definitely avoiding her. She didn't have the mental energy to listen to what she had to say at the moment, so she just resolved herself to listen to it later. She had to go fill in Juliana on what just happened.

Alexander and Gabriel arrived at his mother's residence about 20 minutes after picking up the flower arrangement. She truly had done a beautiful job, and he knew his mother would like it. It would sit perfectly on her entryway table.

Alexander stopped at the black gates with stone pillars on either side and punched in a code, driving slowly through once they opened. They meandered up the blacktop driveway and parked in the front of the house. This had been his childhood home, and it had always been exactly the same aside from a few upgrades. The driveway was a bit long and winding, and it met with a large, white modern colonial with a grey roof. The house had two stories, an abundance of windows, and was surrounded by well-manicured shrubs and trees.

He had told his mother to send the servants out to bring the floral arrangement in, and so they met him at the driveway. He stood back with his cousin as he watched them remove it from the vehicle and carefully carry it up the stone porch steps and through the black double front doors. He followed them in and directed them where to place it.

The entryway was luxurious in every sense of the word, with a striking double staircase and marble floors. The stairs were white with wooden steps and black railings with glass panels and a second-floor balcony that had a white archway. It overlooked the entryway table, which was a plain round black table with silver metal legs. It was flanked by two black leather chairs on either side and the crystalline vase with its colorful flowers would make the perfect addition.

His mother stood off to the side, looking surprised at the object that was being carried in. Alexander watched as they placed it gently down in the center of the table. He looked at his mother pointedly.

"What is this?" She asked.

"A gift. For your birthday." He said simply.

"Oh, Alexander. That's very nice of you." She said, placing her hand over her heart.

"Yes, that is beautiful. Wherever did you get such a stunning floral arrangement, Mr. Pearson?" One of the servants questioned.

"A small shop called Field & Florals." He answered.

"Well, it truly is a masterpiece." The other servant said.

"Indeed, Alex. Thank you." His mother said, giving him a warm hug.